Getting Back on Track – Keeping up with your Goal List

After the bell toils midnight signalling a New Year, much of the world embraces the tradition of setting New Years resolutions.

Goals that they intend to see throughout the year, trends they’d like to keep, or something that we want to aspire too.

Either way – almost all of us fall victim to the tradition of a resolution.

With this said, after a mere one week into the new year, 25% of people have already failed or given up on keeping up with their resolution.

One month into the new year and only 64% roughly are keeping up.

Still – promising numbers as the odds are still in favour to be successful.

At this point in the year, past well past the 6 month period, the number is now at a 46% success rate.

Clearly by summer, odds dwindle and there is a higher chance of not fulfilling your resolution over sticking with it.

On the other hand, I think its worth a mention to see WHY it is such a challenge to stick to the things we set out for ourselves.

Even if we take a New Year Resolution out of the equation and look at goals in general – why do we so often fail to reach the places we want to go when it comes to personal growth and development on this level?

Based on a quick look at research thats been done on this subject – the main reason for not fulfilling a resolution or a goal is because the goal itself was unrealistic.

This is followed closely by not keeping track of progress.

If we have something visual that will help us keep track of our success rates, we’re more likely to keep pushing to see better and possibly faster results.

Setting a goal such as eating healthier, or being more active are things that are easy to keep track of.

And the more and better you keep track – the more apt you are to succeed.

If you set a goal to walk 500 km, and keep track of the distance you walk everyday – you’re a lot more likely to push yourself as you see the numbers climb.

Not to mention when you get to that last 100 km – the final push is on and you’ll much more likely to push yourself that much harder to get to that personal finish line that much sooner.

The sense of accomplishment when you succeed at something even if its something you set for yourself is no small feat.

So what happens when you find yourself half way through the year, all resolutions and goals tossed aside – perhaps yet again – only to wait until January to start again?

The best thing about goals is there is no set date or timeline – this is something you have the luxury of making up on your own.

Often we fall victim to starting January 1st, or starting again February 1st, or ok fine next Monday… you can see how this trend can easily continue.

But there is no law that states goals have to start on a Monday, or the first of the month – they could start on the 37th of the month if such a number existed.

Its our goal so we make the rule.

Just as we set the start date, we set the end date, and we set everything in between.

The important part is picking something realistic that we can complete, and ideally if possible – picking something where we can devise a tracking system so we have a visual representation of how we are progressing.

You need to put the work in to see the results.

Now for the 54% (or probably more at this point) of us that have fallen off that resolution wagon and are looking for an excuse to pick ourselves back up and propel ourselves in a forward momentum – the time is now.

Not only this, August 1st happens to land on a Monday, so for those that like those round numbers or weekday rules – you’re in luck because the stars have aligned for us all to get back on track.

 

 

 

Guest Blogger Rayna Davies

Rayna is the Office Manager at Sentinel Security, as well as the main blog contributor.

With foundations firmly routed in Business administration, Customer Service, and Management, she brings years of experience to her roles both within the Sentinel office, and the blog.

Having grown up with a father who has developed an expertise in Physical Security and Executive Protection in the RCMP and two major corporations, she has personally observed and experienced many security details.  These experiences have included personally meeting HM Queen Elizabeth, Prime Minister Jean Chretien and many celebrities.

Her passions include spending time with her husband and two young children, world travel, reading, writing, and pushing herself to always look for the silver lining.